Hair fastener apparatus

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a hair fastening apparatus for holding hair. The apparatus uses one or more loops using a length of material to hold a user&#39;s hair. The loops may be formed from the same length of material. Where more than one loop is formed, the loops are connected by an interconnection, with the loops and the interconnection having been formed using the same length of material. The length of material may have a covering of friction-enhancing material to aid in securing a user&#39;s hair when tightening a loop around the hair.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Application claims the benefit of, and is related to, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/001,973 titled “Hair Fastener Apparatus,” filed Nov. 5, 2007, which is incorporated herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to hair-holding devices, in particular, a hair fastener apparatus.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

With activities by athletes, working people or just people in general keeping short, thin or fine hair in place has always been a problem. Various attempts have been made to try to alleviate this problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention will provide an apparatus for fastening hair. The apparatus may have one or more lengths of material where the material may be elastic and may also be covered with a layer of fabric. The apparatus may have a tightening means for tightening one or more loops used in the apparatus. The tightening means may be formed by using a portion of the length of material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features and advantages of aspects of the present invention will become more apparent from the detailed description set forth below when taken in conjunction with the claims and drawings, in which like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements or steps. Additionally, the left-most digit of a reference number identifies the drawing in which the reference number first appears.

FIG. 1A illustrates a hair fastening apparatus according to an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1B illustrates a hair fastening apparatus as it is being tightened according to another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2A illustrates a hair fastening apparatus according to yet another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2B illustrates a hair fastening apparatus as it is being tightened according to a further aspect of an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides for a hair fastener for holding hair. The apparatus may be used for long, short, fine or soft hair. The apparatus solves the problem of keeping, for instance, hair in place. In addition, the apparatus may also be used for thick or thin hair.

The apparatus has many advantages including the ability to hold hair in place without twisting, pulling or stressing a user's hair. The apparatus has the additional advantage of being adapted to be easily released from the hair without the use of locking, tying or similar mechanisms which may damage a user's hair. It is simple to use and may be adapted to have decorations or adornments attached to the apparatus or incorporated into its design.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a hair fastening apparatus according to an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention is shown. In one aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, a portion of the length of elastic material of hair fastening apparatus 100 having an elastic main body or length of elastic material may be used to form tightening means 102 and fixed portion 104. In one aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, tightening means 102 may be a sliding knot or similar device. In another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, fixed portion 104 may be a second knot tied at the loose end of fastening apparatus 100, or a piece of malleable metal crimped and fixed into place around the loose end of fastening apparatus 100. The elastic main body of fastening apparatus 100 encloses, loop 106 into which a user's hair is placed.

Referring now to FIG. 1B, once the user's hair has been placed in loop 106, the user may then tighten loop 106 around the hair by sliding tightening means 102 away from fixed portion 104. As shown, loop 106 decreases in size as tightening means 102 is slid away from the loose end of fastening apparatus 100 as shown. Fixed portion 104, as shown, is used to prevent tightening means 102 from sliding off the loose end of fastening apparatus 100. In another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, one or more adornments may added to the apparatus. The adornments may be placed or adapted to hang off fixed portion 104. In yet another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention the adornment may operate as fixed portion 104. In a further aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the adornment may be used to attach the loose end of apparatus 100 with loop 106.

In one aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the elastic main body of fastening apparatus 100 may be covered with a layer of fabric. In another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the fabric used may be made out of friction-enhancing material such as natural or synthetic material. This friction may be used to further prevent fastening means 102 from sliding off the loose end of fastening means 100.

Referring now to FIG. 2A, a hair fastening apparatus 200 formed by using a length or strand of material, according to another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, is shown. Hair fastening apparatus 200 is shown with two loops 202A & 202B, where loops 202A and 202B are connected by interconnection 204. In one aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, loop 202A may be formed by tying the two loose ends of fastening apparatus 200 into a knot 206. In another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, both loose ends of fastening apparatus 200 may be fused together using plastics or similar material to form loop 202A. In yet another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, loose ends of fastening apparatus 200 may be joined together with a metal crimp to form loop 202A and/or loop 202B.

Interconnection 204 is used to tighten a user's hair as the hair is placed in either loop 202A or 202B, with interconnection 204 slid towards the loop having the user's hair in it. FIG. 2B shows interconnection 204 being slid towards loop 202A, thereby decreasing the size of loop 202A and, as a consequence, tightening a user's hair when placed in loop 202A. In one aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, interconnection 204 and loops 202A and 202B may be formed by using a portion or length of material which forms hair fastening apparatus 200. In another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, sliding devices such as a piece of plastic or metal adapted to slide along fastening apparatus 200 in either direction to tighten one of loops 202A or 202B around a user's hair may be used as interconnection 204.

In another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, one or more adornments may added to fastening apparatus 200. The adornments may be placed or adapted to hang off loops 202A and/or 202B. In yet another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention the adornment may operate as fixed portion 204 which may be slidably adapted to tighten either loop 202A or loop 202B. In yet another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the adornment, while hanging from either of loops 20A or 202B, may be adapted to be connected with fixed portion 204.

The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention. 

1. An apparatus for holding hair comprising: at least one loop of material, wherein the loop comprises of an elastic material covered by a layer of fabric; means for tightening the loop, wherein said means utilizes a portion of the material; and a fixed portion, wherein said fixed portion is a portion of said at least one loop of material.
 2. The apparatus according to claim 1 where said means for tightening the loop is a knot.
 3. The apparatus according to claim 1 where said fixed portion is a knot.
 4. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the layer of fabric is made of friction-enhancing material.
 5. An apparatus for holding hair comprising: at least one strand of elastic material; two loops, wherein both loops are configured from said strand of elastic material; and means for tightening either loop, wherein said means utilizes a portion of said strand of material.
 6. The apparatus according to claim 5 where the means for tightening the loop is a knot.
 7. The apparatus according to claim 5 where said strand of material comprises of an elastic interior covered by a layer of fabric.
 8. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said layer of fabric is made of friction-enhancing material.
 9. An apparatus for holding hair, comprising: A length of elastic material, wherein said elastic material is covered with fabric; A first loop formed by a portion of said elastic material; A second loop formed by another portion of said elastic material; and An interconnecting portion formed by yet another portion of said elastic material, wherein said interconnecting portion interconnects said first loop and second loop and wherein said interconnecting portion is adapted to tighten said first loop around hair.
 10. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said interconnecting portion is a knot formed by using a portion of said length of elastic material.
 11. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the fabric is made of friction-enhancing material. 